One of the best parts of a holiday meal is when multiple contributors, with varied culinary tastes and backgrounds, come together to present a veritable smorgasbord of a meal. While a great deal of thought may go into what you will bring and how you will go about preparing it, you might not consider just how you are going to get it to its final destination of deliciousness. You need to find a way to keep it from tipping or being crushed, while either keeping it warm or making the reheating process simple at the same time.
Here are 4 handy ideas when it comes to transporting your dish:
Use the Entire Slow Cooker: Most slow cookers provide both an easy method of transportation and a built in method to reheat the contents. After you’ve prepared your dish, you may keep the food in the slow cooker, unplug it, and secure the lid with either the built in clips or with large rubber bands . After the external surface has cooled off just wrap it with a towel to keep it from cooling off too much.
If there will be a slow cooker available to you at your final destination you can also use a slow cooker bag. These bags usually keep your meal warm without burning your hands and most have an attached handle on top to make it easier to carry.
Get a Casserole Dish Holder: If you are planning on making a casserole then a specialized dish holder might be your best bet. These can be made out of woven cloth, wicker or some other material that will help hold warmth in while adding handles to help you carry. They can be found in a variety of sizes depending on the size of your casserole dish. Just cover your dish, place it in the holder and go.
Some of them even feature multiple compartments which can help you carry more than one dish at a time. Although they are sturdy and meant to carry a lot of weight, you should still test it while fully loaded before carrying it over long distances, like, for instance to your car.
Try a Container with a Lid: After putting in the effort to cook up your special contribution to the holiday buffet, the last thing you want to see is that contribution end up on the floorboard or trunk of your car. If possible, try to find a container that comes with a lid that secures tightly instead of just covering a bowl with cling wrap or tin foil. Many glass casserole dishes that you can use for baking also come with silicone lids. These are easy to keep your food secure while locking in the warmth at the same time. There are even specialty containers that are design specifically for certain dishes. For instance, if you are bringing deviled eggs, use a special deviled egg pan with compartments for the eggs and a lid to cover it with.
Double the Pie Tin: Here is an easy tip to keep your pie or cake intact during travel if the tin does not have a lid or a lid that doesn’t fit properly without damaging the pie. Instead, take a second pie tin of the same size and flip it over to fit on top of the first. You can then wrap aluminum foil around the entire thing. This secures the makeshift lid while making sure the pie top remains undisturbed.
I’m a huge fan of the cook/transport with the slow cooker combo. It only makes sense. Great tips.
I always use casserole dishes with lids, the crockpot, and tupperware with lids to transport holiday meals. They’re pretty much the only way to get your food where it’s going and not in your car.
Thanks for the great tips. I love the idea of using another pie tin as a cover.
We love contributing to the holiday meal, but transporting dishes across town to my parents house can be a real pain. I look forward to giving these suggestions a try since I am tired of balancing hot trays on my lap while my husband drives!
It’s always a great idea to have easy ways to keep your food safe when traveling with a dish. I usually use the crock pot, which I love for keeping the food hot, and safe from spilling out.
The double the pie tin thing is a genius tip. I don’t know why I have never tried that before!
Great ideas! One of those travel slow cookers is on my list this christmas!
What a brilliant tips! I would like to use Container with a Lid.
If something gets made in the slow cooker, then the slow cooker comes with us. It’s just so much easier that way.
You mean I am not supposed to show up with just the ‘gift of myself’! 🙂
As a public transpo commuter because I do not drive, it is virtually impossible to transport stuff.
These are awesome tips! I love all these ideas! I always bring the containers with lid when traveling food. Would love to try your other tips here.
These are some great tips.
Good stuff to get your cooking out on the road.
Great ideas! I’ve never had to transport any of our dinners as we just do our own little thing at home but this will be great for future reference!
I need a casserole dish holder. My life and the holidays would be much easier haha
Oh my goodness, I sooo needed this! I have a two-hour drive this Thanksgiving. In past years, I’ve waited to prep food there, but I don’t have time this year. It’s good to know how to get dinner to its destination.
Thanks for these suggestions. These will make it a whole lot easier taking food elsewhere. Sometimes I ask myself, why have I not thought of this? LOL
All I do is transport dishes I make because our apartment is too small to host. I love these ideas, especially doubling the pie tin I’ve never thought of that one!
We used lidded containers and they seem to work best for us. These are good ideas when you need to travel with food.
I agree with carrying the whole cooker, I’ve seen a lot of fail moments involving transferring the contents to a different container. These tips should be helpful for “the”relatives, this year I’m the host so I stay home, yay!